Automatic configuration of host networking device networking interface without user interaction

ABSTRACT

A host networking device networking interface is automatically configured. The interface is initially configured to operate in a single-link mode in which multiple network communication lanes of the interface cooperatively provide a single communication link. If a signal is not present on any communication lane, then the interface is configured to operate in a multiple-link mode in which each lane provides a separate and different communication link, and is operated in the multiple-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, and if the single communication link has been established with another networking device over all the lanes, then the interface is operated in the single-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, but if the single communication link has not been established over all the lanes, then the interface is configured to operate in the multiple-link mode and is operated in the multiple-link mode.

BACKGROUND

Ethernet has evolved to meet the growing demands of packet-switchednetworks. It has become the unifying technology enabling communicationsvia the Internet and other networks using the Internet Protocol (IP).Due to its proven low cost, known reliability, and simplicity, themajority of today's Internet traffic starts or ends on an Ethernetconnection. This popularity has resulted in a complex ecosystem amongcarrier networks, enterprise networks, and consumers, creating asymbiotic relationship among its various parts.

Communication across a single network communication lane of an Ethernetnetworking interface is typically limited at ten gigabits-per-second(Gb/s) in accordance with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard. As bandwidthneeds have increased, an amendment to the IEEE 802.3 standard, known asthe IEEE 802.3ba amendment, has been ratified which increased bandwidthto forty and one-hundred Gb/s. In the former, four network communicationlanes at ten Gb/s each are employed to provide a total of forty Gb/s,whereas in the latter, ten network communication lanes also at ten Gb/seach are used to provide a total of one-hundred Gb/s.

SUMMARY

An example method of the disclosure is for automatically configuring anetworking interface of a host networking device. The method includesconfiguring the networking interface, by the host networking devicewithout user interaction, to operate in a single-link mode in whichmultiple network communication lanes of the networking interfacecooperatively provide a single communication link. The method includesafter configuring the networking interface to operate in the single-linkmode, determining, by the host networking device without userinteraction, whether a signal is present on each network communicationlane. The method includes in response to determining that the signal isnot present on any network communication lane, configuring thenetworking interface, by the host networking device without userinteraction, to operate in a multiple-link mode in which each networkcommunication lane provides a separate and different communication link,and operating the networking interface in the multiple-link mode.

The method includes in response to determining that the signal ispresent on every network communication lane, determining, by the hostnetworking device without user interaction, whether the singlecommunication link has been established with another networking deviceover all the network communication lanes. The method includes inresponse to determining that the signal is present on every networkcommunication lane, and in response to determining that the singlecommunication link has been established over all the networkcommunication lanes, operating the networking interface in thesingle-link mode. The method includes in response to determining thatthe signal is present on every communication lane, and in response todetermining that the single communication link has not been establishedover all the network communication lanes, configuring the networkinginterface, by the host networking device without user interaction, tooperate in the multiple-link mode, and operating the networkinginterface in the multiple-link mode.

An example host networking device of the disclosure includes a networkinterface having multiple network communication lanes. The host networkcomputing device includes logic implement at least by hardware. Thelogic is to automatically configure the network interface without userinteraction between operation in a single-link mode in which the networkcommunication lanes cooperatively provide a single communication linkand a multiple-link mode in which each network communication laneprovides a separate and different communication link.

An example computer program product includes a computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable code embodied therein, and executable bya host computing device having a networking interface. Thecomputer-readable code includes first computer-readable code toconfigure the networking interface without user interaction to operatein a single-link mode in which multiple network communication lanes ofthe networking interface cooperatively provide a single communicationlink. The computer-readable code includes second computer-readable codeto, after configuring the networking interface to operate in thesingle-link mode, determine without user interaction whether a signal ispresent on each network communication lane. The computer-readable codeincludes third computer-readable code to, in response to determiningthat the signal is not present on any network communication lane,configure the networking interface without user interaction to operatein a multiple-link mode in which each network communication laneprovides a separate and different communication link, and to operate thenetworking interface in the multiple-link mode.

The computer-readable code includes fourth computer-readable code to, inresponse to determining that the signal is present on every networkcommunication lane, determine without user interaction whether thesingle communication link has been established with another networkingdevice over all the network communication lanes. The computer-readablecode includes fifth computer-readable code to, in response todetermining that the single communication link has been established overall the network communication lanes, operate the networking interface inthe single-link mode. The computer-readable code includes sixthcomputer-readable code to, in response to determining that the singlecommunication link has not been established over all the networkcommunication lanes, configure the networking interface without userinteraction, to operate in the multiple-link mode, and to operate thenetworking interface in the multiple-link mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specification.Features shown in the drawing illustrate only some embodiments of thedisclosure, and not of all embodiments of the disclosure, unless thedetailed description explicitly indicates otherwise, and readers of thespecification should not make implications to the contrary.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example host networking device operating in amultiple-link mode.

FIG. 2 is a diagram an example host networking device operating in asingle-link mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example method for automatically configuringa host networking device to operate in a multiple-link mode or asingle-link mode without user interaction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example host networking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure refers to the accompanying drawings that form a part of thedescription. The drawings illustrate specific exemplary embodiments inwhich the disclosure may be practiced. The detailed description,including the drawings, describes these embodiments in sufficient detailto enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure. Thoseskilled in the art may further utilize other embodiments of thedisclosure, and make logical, mechanical, and other changes withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Readers of thefollowing detailed description should, therefore, not interpret thedescription in a limiting sense, and only the appended claims define thescope of the embodiment of the disclosure.

As noted in the background section, the IEEE 802.3ba amendment permitsmultiple network communication lanes to be harnessed to providebandwidth greater than the ten gigabits-per-second (Gb/s) bandwidth thatcan be provided by any single network communication lane. Therefore, ina single-link mode, multiple communication lanes of an Ethernetnetworking interface cooperatively provide a single communication linkthat can have forty Gb/s or one-hundred Gb/s bandwidth, for instance. Ina multiple-link mode, each communication lane provides its own separateand different communication link at a lower bandwidth, such as ten Gb/s.

However, the Ethernet networking interface has to be manually configuredto operate in either the single-link mode or the multiple-link mode. Forinstance, if a host networking device having such a networking interfaceis connected to a device that supports the single-link mode, the hostnetworking device itself also has to be configured to operate in thesingle-link mode to take advantage of the greater bandwidth provided bythe IEEE 802.3ba amendment. As another example, if multiplecommunication lanes of a host networking device are connected tomultiple devices, but the host networking device is configured tooperate in the single-link mode, then the host networking device may notbe able to properly communicate with these multiple devices until it hasbeen reconfigured to operate in the multiple-link mode.

Techniques disclosed herein provide for automatic configuration of anetworking interface of a host networking device without userinteraction. The networking interface is initially configured to operatein a single-link mode. Whether a signal is present on each networkcommunication lane is determined. If a signal is not present on anynetwork communication lane, then the networking interface is(re)configured to operate in a multiple-link mode and is operated inthis mode. However, if a signal is present on every networkcommunication lane, and if a single communication link has beenestablished with another networking device over all the networkcommunication lanes, the networking interface is operated in thesingle-link mode in which it was previously configured. If a signal ispresent on every network communication lane, but if a singlecommunication link has not been established over all the lanes, thenetworking interface is (re)configured to operate in the multiple-linkmode and is operated in this mode.

The automatic configuration process may occur responsive to reboot ofthe host networking device, user initiation of networking interfacereconfiguration, determination that a networking cable has beendisconnected from the networking interface, and so on. For example, ifthe multiple network communication lanes are connected to multipledevices, then even though the networking interface is initiallyconfigured to operate in the single-link mode, the interface will beautomatically reconfigured to operate in the multiple-link mode. This isbecause a signal is not present on every network communication lane, orbecause a signal is present on every network communication lane but asingle communication link has not been established over all the lanes.

FIG. 1 shows an example host networking device 102 operating in amultiple-link mode, such as that provided by or consistent with the IEEE802.3ba amendment. The host networking device 102 may be a servercomputing device, a router, a switch, or another type of host networkingdevice. The host networking device 102 includes multiple networkcommunication lanes 104A, 104B, . . . , 104N, which are collectivelyreferred to as the network communication lanes 104. There are N networkcommunication lanes 104, where N can be equal to four or ten inaccordance with the 802.3ab amendment, but where more generally N isgreater than one.

A network communication lane is generally a physical interconnectbetween two networking devices that provides a data communication pathin each direction. For instance, each network communication lane 104 maybe a cable of unshielded or shielded twisted-pair conductors culminatingin bare wires or a network jack like an RJ45 jack. Each networkcommunication lane 104 may be in accordance with the 10GBASE-T, or IEEE802.3an-2006, standard that provides for a maximum of ten Gb/sthereover.

The network communication lanes 104 are connected to a connector 106.The connector 106 may be a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP orQSFP+) connector, which is a compact, hot-pluggable transceiver used fordata communication applications. In the multiple-link mode of FIG. 1,multiple networking devices 108A, 108B, . . . , 108N, collectivelyreferred to as the devices 108, can be connected to the connector 106,such as via CAT5, CAT5e, or CAT6 cables, as one example.

In the multiple-link mode of FIG. 1, each network communication lane 104provides a separate and different communication link. A communication,or data, link is generally a point-to-point communication session thatis conducted using a protocol, such as the Internet Protocol (IP), andis independent of other communication links. Thus, the N networkcommunication lanes 104 can provide N separate and differentcommunication links. The host networking device 102 therefore is able tocommunicate with each device 108 over a separate and differentcommunication link provided by a different network communication lane104.

The maximum bandwidth of each communication link in the multiple-linkmode of FIG. 1 is the maximum bandwidth of each communication lane 104.For example, if each communication lane 104 has a bandwidth of ten Gb/s,then each communication link itself can have up to ten Gb/s. Generallythen, in the multiple-link mode, there are N communication links of Xbandwidth each, where there are N communication lanes 104 each having abandwidth X.

FIG. 2 shows the example host networking device 102 operating in asingle-link mode, such as that provided by or consistent with the IEEE802.3ba amendment. The host networking device 102 again includes Nnetwork communication lanes 104 connected to the connector 106. In thesingle-link mode of FIG. 2, however, one networking device 202 can beconnected to the connector 106, such as via an optical interconnect, asone example. The network communication lanes 104 further cooperativelyprovide a single communication link.

The maximum bandwidth of the single communication link in thesingle-link mode of FIG. 2 is equal to the number of networkcommunication lanes 104 multiplied by the bandwidth of eachcommunication lane 104. For example, if each network communication lane104 has a bandwidth of ten Gb/s, then the single communication linkitself can have up to forty Gb/s where there are four communicationlanes 104, and up to one-hundred Gb/s where there are ten lanes 104.Generally then, in the single-link mode, there is one singlecommunication link of (N times X) bandwidth, where there are Ncommunication lanes 104 each having a bandwidth X.

FIG. 3 shows an example method 300 for automatically configuring a hostnetworking device to switch between single-link mode and multiple-linkmode. Once the host computing device has booted (302), a networkinginterface of the device is initially configured to operate in thesingle-link mode (304). The networking interface is not actuallyoperated in this mode yet, however, but rather is configured so that itwill operate in the single-link mode.

Thereafter, the method 300 waits until a networking cable has beenconnected to the networking interface (306). The networking cable can bea wire cable, such as a copper CAT5, CAT5e, or CAT6 cable, or an opticalinterconnect. The networking cable may be the cable that connects one ofthe devices 108 in FIG. 1 or the device 202 in FIG. 2 to the connector106, presuming that the network communication lanes 104 have alreadybeen connected between the host networking device 102 and the connector106.

Thereafter, the method 300 waits until any network communication lanehas a signal present thereon (308). The method 300 then determineswhether a signal is present on every network communication lane (310).Determining whether a signal is present on a network communication lanecan be achieved by inspecting a physical medium dependent sublayer (PMD)loss-of-signal (LOS) signal provided by a physical devices sublayer(PHY) of the networking interface for the communication lane inquestion. For example, where the LOS signal is zero, this means thatthere is no loss of signal, such that a signal is present on thecorresponding network communication lane. By comparison, where the LOSsignal is one this means that there is a loss of signal, such that asignal is not present on the corresponding network communication lane.

If a signal is present on every network communication lane, then one oftwo scenarios may have occurred. First, per FIG. 1, a device 108 mayhave been connected to every network communication lane 104, such thatmultiple devices 108 have been connected to all the networkcommunication lanes 104 over multiple communication links. Second, perFIG. 2, a single device 202 may have been connected to every networkcommunication lane 104, such that the one device 202 has been connectedto all the network communication lanes 104 over a single communicationlink.

In either such scenario, a signal is present on every networkcommunication lane (312), and therefore the method 300 determines with asingle communication link has been established (314), which signifiesthat the scenario of FIG. 2 has occurred, as opposed to that of FIG. 1.Determining whether a single communication link has been established canbe achieved by inspecting a physical coding sublayer (PCS) link-upsignal provided by the PHY of the networking interface for the singlecommunication link. For example, if the PCS link-up signal is one, thismeans that the single communication link has been established(corresponding to FIG. 2), whereas if the PCS link-up signal is zero,this means that the single communication link has not been established(corresponding to FIG. 1). If a single communication link has beenestablished (316), then the method 300 proceeds to operate thenetworking interface of the host networking device in the single-linkmode in which the interface has previously been configured in part 304(318), and such as that of FIG. 2.

Referring back to part 310, if a signal is not present on every networkcommunication lane, then just one scenario can have occurred.Specifically, per FIG. 1, one or more devices 108 have been connected tocorresponding one or more network communication lanes 104, but not toall the network communication lanes 104. The scenario of FIG. 2 is notpossible, because in FIG. 2, all the network communication lanes 104have signals present thereon. Therefore, in this situation (312), themethod 300 proceeds to configure the networking interface of the hostnetworking device in the multiple-link mode (320), and operates thenetworking interface in this mode (322).

Referring back to part 314, if a signal is present on every networkcommunication lane, but a single communication link has not beenestablished, then similarly just one scenario can have occurred.Specifically, per FIG. 1, the devices 108 have been connected to all thenetwork communication lanes 104. The scenario of FIG. 2 is not possible,because in FIG. 2, a single communication link has been established.Therefore, in this situation (316), the method 300 also proceeds toconfigure the networking interface of the host networking device in themultiple-link mode (320), and operates the networking interface in thismode (322).

Parts 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, and 322 of the method300 are performed without user interaction. A user, such as a networkadministrator, does not initiate configuration of the networkinginterface to operate in the single-link mode in part 304, for instance,and does not initiate configuration of the networking interface tooperate in the multiple-link mode in part 320. Rather, the hostnetworking device itself can perform these parts of the method 300,without user assistance or interaction, to automatically configure thenetworking interface to operate in the proper mode depending on whetherthe scenario of FIG. 1 or the scenario of FIG. 2 has been detected.

The method 300, beginning at part 304, can be performed again where, forinstance, the networking device has been rebooted, reconfiguration ofthe device has been initiated, or a networking cable has been detectedas having been disconnected from the device (324). As to devicereconfiguration initiation, a user may initiate such reconfiguration. Itis noted in this situation, though, that the user does not actuallyassist in the reconfiguration process, but rather is simply issuing acommand that causes the networking device to automatically reconfigureitself again. That a networking cable has been disconnected may be oneof the networking cables interconnecting the devices 108 to theconnector 106 in FIG. 1, the cable interconnecting the device 202 to theconnector 106 in FIG. 2, or one of the network communication lanes 104interconnecting the host network device 202 to the connector 106.

The automatic configuration that has been described with reference toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3 covers other scenarios in addition to those describedabove. As an example, in one implementation, there may be twelve networkcommunication lanes 104. In the single-link mode that has beendescribed, one or more single communication links, each of whichencompass more than one network communication lane 104, may beestablished. For instance, up to three single communication links, eachwith a corresponding different networking device 202, may beestablished. Each single communication link may encompass four of thenetwork communication lanes 104. If three single communication links areestablished, then no network communication lanes 104 remain unused; iftwo single communication links are established, then four communicationlanes 104 remain unused; and if just one single link is established,then eight lanes 104 remain unused.

As another example, there may again be twelve network communicationlanes 104. In the single-link mode that has been described, just onesingle communication link may be established, but in which just ten ofthe twelve network communication lanes 104 are used. The remaining twonetwork communication lanes 104 thus remain unused in this example.

A single-link mode therefore means herein that more than one networkcommunication lane 104 is used within the communication link inquestion. As described above, however, there may be more than one suchsingle communication link in the single-link mode. By comparison, amultiple-link mode means herein that each communication link uses justone network communication lane 104 within each communication link.

FIG. 4 shows an example implementation of the host networking device102. The host networking device 102 includes logic 402 and a networkinginterface 404. The logic 402 is implemented at least in hardware, andperforms the method 300 that has been described. The logic 402 may becompletely hardware, such as an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and so on. The logic 402may be computer-executable code stored on a computer-readable datastorage medium and executable by a processor, in a software-and-hardwareimplementation of the logic 402.

The networking interface 404 includes a number of sublayers, such as thePHY 406, a single-link PCS 412, the PMDs 408, and multiple-link PCSs418. The PHY 406 provides the physical layer device of the networkinginterface 404. The PMDs 408 include multiple PMDs 408A, 408B, . . . ,408N, implement or connect the network communication lanes 104, andprovide corresponding LOS signals 414A, 414B, . . . , 414N, which mayeach be a single N-bit LOS signal, and which correspond to the networkcommunication lanes 104. The multiple-link PCSs 418 include multiplePCSs 418A, 418B, . . . , 418N, corresponding to the PMDs 408 and to thenetwork communication lanes 104. The single-link PCS 412 provides thePCS signal 416 corresponding to whether a single link has beenestablished over all the network communication lanes 104.

It is noted that, as can be appreciated by one those of ordinary skillwithin the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as asystem, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of theembodiments of the invention may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining softwareand hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the presentinvention may take the form of a computer program product embodied inone or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable programcode embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium include the following: an electrical connection havingone or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, amagnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium maybe any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program codeembodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

In general, a computer program product includes a computer-readablemedium on which one or more computer programs are stored. Execution ofthe computer programs from the computer-readable medium by one or moreprocessors of one or more hardware devices causes a method to beperformed. For instance, the method that is to be performed may be oneor more of the methods that have been described above.

The computer programs themselves include computer program code. Computerprogram code for carrying out operations for aspects of the presentinvention may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through any type ofnetwork, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (forexample, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the present invention have been described above withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,apparatus (systems) and computer program products according toembodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block ofthe flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It is finally noted that, although specific embodiments have beenillustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve thesame purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. Thisapplication is thus intended to cover any adaptations or variations ofembodiments of the present invention. As such and therefore, it ismanifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claimsand equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. A method for automatically configuring a networkinginterface of a host networking device, the method comprising:configuring the networking interface, by the host networking devicewithout user interaction, to operate in a single-link mode in which aplurality of network communication lanes of the networking interfacecooperatively provide a single communication link; after configuring thenetworking interface to operate in the single-link mode, determining, bythe host networking device without user interaction, whether a signal ispresent on each network communication lane; in response to determiningthat the signal is not present on every network communication lane,configuring the networking interface, by the host networking devicewithout user interaction, to operate in a multiple-link mode in whicheach network communication lane provides a separate and differentcommunication link, and operating the networking interface in themultiple-link mode; in response to determining that the signal ispresent on every network communication lane, determining, by the hostnetworking device without user interaction, whether the singlecommunication link has been established with another networking deviceover all the network communication lanes; in response to determiningthat the single communication link has been established over all thenetwork communication lanes, operating the networking interface in thesingle-link mode; and in response to determining that the singlecommunication link has not been established over all the networkcommunication lanes, configuring the networking interface, by the hostnetworking device without user interaction, to operate in themultiple-link mode, and operating the networking interface in themultiple-link mode, wherein the networking interface is configuredbetween the single-link mode and the multiple-link mode just based onwhether the signal is present on every network communication lane, andbased on whether the single communication link has been established withanother networking device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the singlecommunication link cooperatively provided by the network communicationlanes in the single-link mode is faster than the separate and differentcommunication link provided by each network communication lane in themultiple-link mode.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the networkcommunication lanes are n in number, and each network communication laneprovides a same bandwidth X, wherein in the multiple-link mode, thenetworking interface communicates over one or more of the separate anddifferent communication links that are n in number at a bandwidth X foreach separate and different communication link, and wherein in thesingle-link mode, the networking interface communicates over the singlecommunication link that is one in number at a bandwidth of n times X. 4.The method of claim 3, wherein X is ten gigabits per second (gbps) and nis one of four and ten.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising,after configuring the networking interface to operate in the single-linkmode, waiting, by the host networking device, until the host networkingdevice has determined that the signal is present on any networkcommunication lane before proceeding to determine whether the signal ispresent on each network communication lane.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising, after configuring the networking interface tooperate in the single-link mode, waiting, by the host networking device,until the host networking has determined that a networking cable hasbeen connected to the networking interface before proceeding to waituntil the host networking device has determined that the signal ispresent on any network communication lane.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising, after operating the networking interface in themultiple-link mode or in the single-link mode, proceeding back toconfiguring the networking interface to operate in the single-link moderesponsive to one or more of: reboot of the host networking device, userinitiation of networking interface reconfiguration, and determinationthat a networking cable has been disconnected from the networkinginterface.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether thesignal is present on each network communication lane comprisesinspecting a physical medium dependent sublayer (PMD) loss-of-signal(LOS) signal provided by a physical devices sublayer (PHY) of thenetworking interface for each network communication lane.
 9. The methodof claim 1, wherein determining whether the single communication linkhas been established over all the network communication lanes comprisesinspecting a physical coding sublayer (PCS) link-up signal provided by aphysical devices sublayer (PHY) of the networking interface for thesingle communication link.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thenetworking interface is an Ethernet networking interface.
 11. A hostnetworking device comprising: a network interface having a plurality ofnetwork communication lanes; and logic implemented at least by hardwareto: automatically configure the network interface without userinteraction between operation in a single-link mode in which the networkcommunication lanes cooperatively provide a single communication linkand a multiple-link mode in which each network communication laneprovides a separate and different communication link; configure thenetworking interface to operate in the single-link mode; afterconfiguring the networking interface to operate in the single-link mode,determine whether a signal is present on each network communicationlane; in response to determining that the signal is not present on anynetwork communication lane, configure the networking interface tooperate in the multiple-link mode, and operate the networking interfacein the multiple-link mode; in response to determining that the signal ispresent on every network communication lane, determine whether thesingle communication link has been established with another networkingdevice over all the network communication lanes; in response todetermining that the single communication link has been established overall the network communication lanes, operate the networking interface inthe single-link mode; and in response to determining that the singlecommunication link has not been established over all the networkcommunication lanes, configure the networking interface to operate inthe multiple-link mode, and operate the networking interface in themultiple-link mode, wherein the networking interface is configuredbetween the single-link mode and the multiple-link mode just based onwhether the signal is present on every network communication lane, andbased on whether the single communication link has been established withanother networking device.
 12. The host networking device of claim 11,wherein the network communication lanes are n in number, and eachnetwork communication lane provides a same bandwidth X, wherein in themultiple-link mode, the networking interface communicates over one ormore of the separate and different communication links that are n innumber at a bandwidth X for each separate and different communicationlink, and wherein in the single-link mode, the networking interfacecommunicates over the single communication link that is one in number ata bandwidth of n times X.
 13. The host networking device of claim 11,wherein the logic is to, after configuring the networking interface tooperate in the single-link mode, wait until the logic has determinedthat the signal is present on any network communication lane beforeproceeding to determine whether the signal is present on each networkcommunication lane.
 14. The host networking device of claim 13, whereinthe logic is to, after configuring the networking interface to operatein the single-link mode, wait until the logic has determined that anetworking cable has been connected to the networking interface beforeproceeding to wait until the host networking device has determined thatthe signal is present on any network communication lane.
 15. The hostnetworking device of claim 11, wherein the logic is to, after operatingthe networking interface in the multiple-link mode or in the single-linkmode, proceed back to configuring the networking interface to operate inthe single-link mode responsive to one or more of: reboot of the hostnetworking device, user initiation of networking interfacereconfiguration, and determination that a networking cable has beendisconnected from the networking interface.
 16. The host networkingdevice of claim 11, wherein the logic is to determine whether the signalis present on each network communication lane by inspecting a physicalmedium dependent sublayer (PMD) loss-of-signal (LOS) signal provided bya physical devices sublayer (PHY) of the networking interface for eachnetwork communication lane.
 17. The host networking device of claim 11,wherein the logic is to determine whether the single communication linkhas been established over all the network communication lanes byinspecting a physical coding sublayer (PCS) link-up signal provided by aphysical devices sublayer (PHY) of the networking interface for thesingle communication link.
 18. The host networking device of claim 11,wherein the networking interface is an Ethernet networking interface.19. A computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storagemedium having computer-readable code embodied therein, executable by ahost computing device having a networking interface, and comprising:first computer-readable code to configure the networking interfacewithout user interaction to operate in a single-link mode in which aplurality of network communication lanes of the networking interfacecooperatively provide a single communication link; secondcomputer-readable code to, after configuring the networking interface tooperate in the single-link mode, determine without user interactionwhether a signal is present on each network communication lane; thirdcomputer-readable code to, in response to determining that the signal isnot present on any network communication lane, configure the networkinginterface without user interaction to operate in a multiple-link mode inwhich each network communication lane provides a separate and differentcommunication link, and to operate the networking interface in themultiple-link mode; fourth computer-readable code to, in response todetermining that the signal is present on every network communicationlane, determine without user interaction whether the singlecommunication link has been established with another networking deviceover all the network communication lanes; fifth computer-readable codeto, in response to determining that the single communication link hasbeen established over all the network communication lanes, operate thenetworking interface in the single-link mode; and sixthcomputer-readable code to, in response to determining that the singlecommunication link has not been established over all the networkcommunication lanes, configure the networking interface without userinteraction, to operate in the multiple-link mode, and to operate thenetworking interface in the multiple-link mode, wherein the networkinginterface is configured between the single-link mode and themultiple-link mode just based on whether the signal is present on everynetwork communication lane, and based on whether the singlecommunication link has been established with another networking device.